Cairo Geared up for European Challenge Tour debut

World number nine Rory McIlroy is the star attraction in Cairo this week as the European Challenge Tour reaches the business end of the season with the $250,000 Egyptian Open presented by SODIC.

The 21 year-old, who flew into the Egyptian capital last night and plays in today’s (Tuesday) Pro-am, is making his first Challenge Tour appearance in five years with the Egyptian Golf Federation delighted that the man from Hollywood in Northern Ireland has accepted an invitation to play in the region’s oldest golf tournament.

“Naturally, it’s wonderful for us that Rory has come for the tournament and I’m sure he’ll enjoy the experience,” said Calle Carlsson, Director of Golf and Leisure at the hosting JW Marriott, Mirage City Golf Club, and who is also competing in the event which gets underway tomorrow.

“The course is in great shape and a lot tougher than 2009. The greens are quicker, the rough is thicker – I think the players will notice a big difference from when they played here a year ago.”

The tournament – the penultimate on the 2010 European Challenge Tour calendar – will see McIlroy lead a field of 114 players, including local and regional pros. And while the Ryder Cup star is on a different level in terms of world ranking, he is taking nothing forgranted.

“I would love to get to visit the Pyramids while I'm in Egypt, but I'm out there solely with the view to win,” said McIlroy, speaking to the Belfast Telegraph ahead of his first visit to Egypt.

“I've never been out in that part of the world before so it's going to be exciting, and I also met with Egpytian Open officials and some juniors from Egypt at The Open this year.

“It's also a good opportunity for me to pick up some world ranking points. If I win the Egyptian Open it means I pick up twelve or thirteen, which is like finishing high up in a main European Tour event.

“I am going to have to play very well to win. I have the utmost respect for everyone else in the field and if I am going to win I’ll have to earn it. Even though it is a Challenge Tour event, you should never expect to win as everyone in the field will be looking to beat me. But I will be trying my best so there's no point in just pitching up and finishing middle of the field.”

Caption: Calle Carlsson shows the line during practice for the Egyptian Open 2010 presented by SODIC at the JW Marriott, Mirage City Golf Club in Cairo yesterday